Police officers were called to Parliament today to investigate a suspicious package that was sent to a Labour Muslim MP this lunchtime. The officers were investigating a package which was reported to be leaking a liquid at the offices of Labour MP Mohammed Yasin in the Norman Shaw building in the Houses of Parliament.

Police were said to be concerned that the package was linked to a spate of threatening letters calling for a “Punish a Muslim Day” on April 3. At least three police officers and five ambulance staff were called to the scene in the Houses of Parliament. Several MPs' offices were evacuated.

There were reports today that man and woman have been taken to hospital as a precaution. But one source said everyone was OK after the incident. One source said the officers were examining whether the package was a “malicious communication” sent to the Muslim MP.

I used to work for the Royal Mail, years ago, and one of my jobs was sorting mail into postcodes. Some mail is addressed to what’s considered ‘lowly’ MPs, directly. But a leaky or wet-looking parcel would be removed and bagged, especially if it wasn’t obvious what was in it.

_________________No one ever made a difference by being like everyone else.

Police are dealing with another “suspicious substance” incident in Parliament less than 24 hours after Labour MP Mohammad Yasin’s office was targeted with a package containing a non-harmful liquid. Guido understands Rupa Huq’s office has been evacuated as have other offices on the first floor of Norman Shaw North building. The incident involves two packages. Specialist police and ambulance crews are in attendance. Police said they were investigating whether yesterday’s incident – which saw two people taken to hospital as a precaution – was linked to threats against Muslims. Now Parliament says police are probing whether the two incidents are linked:

“The Met Police are currently investigating suspicious items of mail in Norman Shaw North. We cannot provide any more details at this stage. This is further to the two items investigated yesterday, both of which were found to be non-harmful. The Police are investigating the content of the letters to identify any potential links.”

Yikes…

UPDATE: MPs, researchers and Parliamentary staff have received an email warning them that there have been four unknown substance incidents in two days. It reads:

“The Met Police are currently investigating two suspicious items of mail in offices in Norman Shaw North…“Yesterday a suspicious substance in an office in Norman Shaw North was investigated by the Met Police and was found not to be hazardous. The affected area was temporarily cordoned off but no evacuation was necessary… A further letter was investigated in an office in Portcullis House yesterday evening and found not to be harmful. This makes a total of four incidents in two days at time of writing.”